Two decades ago, Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson had a vision of starting a road race in her native Cape Elizabeth.
On Saturday, that event — the Beach to Beacon 10K — will celebrate its 20th running.
A throng of the world’s best runners will join Maine’s top harriers among more than 6,000 participants in search of prize money, bragging rights and personal bests on a 6.2-mile journey to the Portland Head Light.
The elite women will start at 8 a.m. and the rest of the field will take off approximately 12 minutes later.
More than $90,000 is up for grabs among the elite runners, with $10,000 going to the winner.
Last summer that was Maine native Ben True, who became the first American to break the tape.
The North Yarmouth native will be back to defend his title this weekend after just missing out on a spot at the world track and field championships in the 5,000-meter run.
Should True win again this year, he’ll pocket $15,000 as the top American man and woman will each take home $5,000.
The 31-year-old True, who now lives in New Hampshire, has won both road races he’s entered this year, including the BAA 5K in Boston where he lowered his American record at the 3.1-mile distance to 13 minutes, 20 seconds.
He’ll be challenged by a talented East African contingent that includes Stephen Kosgei-Kibet and Stephen Sambu of Kenya. Sambu was the runner-up to True at the BAA 5K.
Other contenders include Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia, Leonard-Kiplimo-Barsoton of Kenya and American Abdi Abdirahman.
The men’s elite field also includes Brunswick native Will Geoghegan, like True a Dartmouth College alumnus. Geohegan finished eighth at the 2015 Beach to Beacon 10K.
Defending women’s champion and course record holder Mary Keitany of Kenya will return to defend her title. She’ll be challenged by Massachusetts native Shalane Flanagan, a runner-up at the 2014 Beach to Beacon and the American 10K record holder (30:52).
Wude Ayalew of Ethiopia, Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya, Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, Diane Nukuri of Burundi and Jordan Hasay of Oregon are among other women’s contenders.
The race also features a talented crop of Maine athletes aiming for the unofficial title of state road racing champion.
Both defending champions, Michelle Lilienthal of Portland and recent University of Maine graduate and Gorham native Jesse Orach, are returning.
Orach, seeking to become the first Maine runner to repeat since True in 2008 and 2009, won the America East individual cross country title and while leading UMaine to a second-place team finish as a senior last fall.
Contenders looking to unseat Orach include 2015 champ Ben Decker of Yarmouth, Liam Simpson of Cape Elizabeth, Rob Gomez of Windham, Alex Moser of Portland and Caribou native and Portland resident Spencer McElwain.
Lilienthal set a course record for Maine women last summer (33:39) and will be challenged by 2015 runner-up Emily Durgin of Standish, two-time champion Erica Jesseman of Scarborough and three-time winner Sheri Piers of Falmouth.
